Rapids Reclaim First Place in Western Conference With 1-0 Victory Over New York Red Bulls

June 27, 2010

East Rutherford N.J. (Sunday May 13 2007)- The Colorado Rapids gave the New York Red Bulls their first loss of the 2007 season on a goal by Nicolas Hernandez and reclaimed the top spot in the Western Conference by gaining three points on the road at New York.

Bouna Coundoul caught a Dane Richards cross in the 13th minute to stop a Red Bulls scoring opportunity and in the 15th minute the Senegalese ‘keeper was in the right place at the right time to corral a free kick.

Roberto Brown had the Rapids' first scoring chance in the 17th minute when he headed a Jovan Kirovski cross but Jon Conway kept it out with his outstretched right arm.

Hernandez got on the scoreboard for the first time this season in the 24th minute. Herculez Gomez crossed a ball that he received from Kyle Beckerman on the ground to the Argentine who ripped the ball into the back of the net with the outside of his right foot.

Dan Gargan saved a ball off the goal line in the 48th minute. After a cross Coundoul came out to force the Red Bulls' Juan Pablo Angel to give up the ball and Gargan cleared the shot before it crossed the line.

In the 57th minute Coundoul kept his clean sheet alive when he dove to catch a Richardson shot in a display of astonishing acrobatics.

Colorado defender Greg Vanney came out of the game in the 60th minute when he sprained his left ankle on the artificial turf at Giants Stadium. Chris Wingert made his 2007 Rapids debut when he came on for the veteran.

Coundoul made another save in second half stoppage time on a near post shot by Richards off of a Clint Mathis flick.

The Rapids will return home to Dick’s SportingGoodsPark this Saturday May 19 when they host the Kansas City Wizards in a 7 p.m. kickoff.